Posted by Sally
on September 8, 2009, 11:11 am
Here's a few photos of how I put my bar together - it was mostly made out of stuff that was already in the garage, I like making something for free.
The starting point was the top off a dismantled cupboard, it had a nice finished edge and was a good colour. One of the cupboard sides was the right size to make the base too. 
It's good if you can find somethng heavy to weight your wood while you are sawing - luckily my mum was just lying around... 
Then I cut four pieces to make the back, front and sides - just cheap MDF - so I ended up with a box. At this point it occurred to me that a ready made chest/toybox would have been less hard work, but then it wouldn't have been free! 
I made a hinged flap partly to add interest and realism, and partly because it made it easier to cut the middle out of the bar top. I have not actually made the side to open though. 
I cut a lid and attached it with hinges, so it will form the back of the bar when open - 
- and a lid to keep it all safe when closed.That's the remains of my model railway stuck to the lid! It got sacrificed for the dolls. 
The shelves were sized so that they can stay attached to the wall and fold down intio the gap in the bar. Of course I still have to take the glasses and bottles off to fold it away! But there is storage space inside the bar. 
I used mirror card on the shelves as it was easy to cut - it reflects the contents of the shelves well, but not anything further away, so I don't end up photographing unwanted reflections. 
The lights are just battery operated mini fairy lights, I drilled holes through just below the shelves and just poked the bulbs through - it is not pretty from the back but I can remove them easily for storage! Also there are two wooden braces which I bolt on to keep the lid up. 
It doesn't look much from a distance, but close up with the lights on I think it does the job. 
Sadie and Dan got voted 'Couple Most Likely To Be First To The Bar'. 
Hope this wasn't all too long-winded!